Comparative Assessment of the Water Footprint of Banana in Gujarat Using FAO CROPWAT 8.0 Model

Abstract

Agriculture is a major consumer of freshwater, making efficient water management essential for sustainable crop production. Banana is an important water-intensive horticultural crop in Gujarat, where regional variations in climate and irrigation dependence can influence crop water use. This study evaluated the water footprint of banana production in selected districts of Gujarat using the FAO CROPWAT 8.0 model. Bharuch and Navsari from South Gujarat and Anand and Vadodara from Middle Gujarat were considered for the analysis. Secondary data on climatic parameters, crop yield, and other data for 2012–13, 2013–14, 2022–23, and 2023–24 were used to estimate crop water requirement and the green, blue, and total water footprint components. The findings indicated substantial variation in crop water requirement, total water footprint, green water footprint, and blue water footprint across districts and study years. Over the decade, the crop water requirement for banana ranged from 1734.1 to 1830.7 mm in Bharuch, 1279.4 to 1374.7 mm in Navsari, 1544.3 to 1622.0 mm in Anand, and 1965.0 to 2047.1 mm in Vadodara. The total water footprint ranged from 236.04 to 252.05 m³/ton in Bharuch, 234.75 to 275.69 m³/ton in Navsari, 246.62 to 268.86 m³/ton in Anand, and 277.07 to 355.14 m³/ton in Vadodara. Blue water constituted the major component of the water footprint in Bharuch, Anand, and Vadodara, while green water made a larger contribution in Navsari. The South Gujarat region recorded lower water footprint values than the Middle Gujarat region, indicating relatively higher water-use efficiency. This variation may be attributed to differences in rainfall availability, dependence on irrigation, and crop productivity, which collectively influence the water requirement per tonne of banana production. The study emphasises the importance of improving irrigation efficiency and adopting appropriate water-management practices to support sustainable banana cultivation in Gujarat.